Van Halen fans will get the title.
We took a long drive to Helsinki for a baby shower slash gender reveal party. And after the rain and wind of the last few days, the weather was pretty much perfect. It was really nice to see some people I hadn't for a long time and give some hugs, eat some cake and find out what gender the baby will be assigned at birth, before it later gets to choose from the myriad (10,000) options she will have available later.
The weather was great, and so was the location. They held it at an old rowing club building that was used for the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, complete with a signed silver mead winning canoe from 1948. The Finnish rower took two golds in 1952. But the location was great, close to the city and still quiet with a view over sea water that was as still as a lake. Complete with idyllic swans.
But of course, the main reason we were there was to congratulate the excited couple on their coming bundle of tears and nappy changes - and we first had a job to do. Pick up grandma and her friend from about halfway along our journey.
Note: I have never met grandma's friend.
So we sent a message to say we were about ten minutes away and they said they would be waiting at the designated spot. When we arrived, there was a nicely dressed woman in her eighties standing where we were told to meet, so after parking the car, I approached her - and in Finnish...
"Hello, you must be Ritva."
Blank stare.
"Hey, I'm Taraz, are you Ritva?"
Blank stare... shuffles uneasily.
So I walk away back to the car and say to my wife - "Either it isn't her, or she is senile". But not one to give up, I went back and asked again and finally, a response!
"I am not Ritva."
....
Back to the car and the the old lady I do know (the grandma) came out, apologised for running a bit late and that Ritva would be along shortly.
By this stage, Not-Ritva had been picked up by her son and taken away.
The old women thought this was all hilarious when they found out.
But my gods....
Did they talk!
We were in the car together for about an hour and a half each way, and they didn't stop for a breath. When we had finally dropped them off and said our goodbyes, it was like we had shot into the vacuum of space, it was so quiet. Smallsteps was worn out, just listening.
I hope I have that much energy at their age.
But I don't have that much energy now!!
The invite said the dress code was "fancy summer party" and well, that was interpreted about as many ways as there are genders these days. We had a feeling that given the location and dress code, the couple might have been planning a surprise wedding, as they are yet to marry (if they do) and they don't know where they are going to live, given he is professional sportsperson. But, no.
We were overdressed.
It is better to be overdressed, than underdressed.
I took my jacket off, and rolled up my sleeves to look more casual.
I don't mind dressing up, though I don't have a lot of nice clothes that still fit me these days. They keep shrinking.
While it was a lot of driving for only a couple hours on site, it was still worth the effort to see people and get to do something a bit different. This was my first "baby shower" but it really wasn't one at all.
Oh, and there was a voting system where the guests could pick boy or girl and from 51 guests, it was 25 boy, 26 girl - and girl won. Rather than doing a big bang reveal, they had little cupcakes with pink cream inside.
I had guessed boy.
Either way, it is awesome.
Taraz
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It looks like you had a great day and these pictures are wonderful what a place to go for. The places are so wonderful.
This is a sensible and a beautiful sentence we should follow up. We should at least dress well enough that we feel good about ourselves. And we should try to make ourselves feel good. Others will think the way they think. We cannot change anyone's mind...
That mix up with Not ritva had me laughing 😄. The wall trip sound like it was well worth the drive true good weather, good company and a special moment for the parents to be. And sure, being overdress is definitely better than being underdressed
Oh dang, I thought you were going to say the lady was afraid of you because you weren't white or something like that.
🙂
You are a beautiful couple and a beautiful family. I used to admire certain couples during my teenage years, my 20s, and 30s. One was my mother's cousine and his wife, and another was a couple from where I live (They have shifted from here a long time ago). They always seemed made for each other. Now, you both have been added to that list.
I mean she could have just said no to begin with but I suppose when there's some strange person asking and you're not sure if you're going to get murdered on the spot for the wrong answer or not XD
The oldies you picked up sound like my mother in law who can apparently talk under water with a mout full of marbles. Some people are just really extraverted I guess x_x
I would find that exhausting too
The coloured cream inside the cupcake is a cute idea XD The last baby shower I went to everyone chose a marshmallow (pink or blue) out of a bowl and held up their "guess" while the couple dug into a gender reveal cake with a glass to show what they were having.
Glad you had a good time and you didn't look that overdressed, though "fancy" does sound slightly higher tier than "smart", it would have made me momentarily panic XD
I resemble that statement. Feel ya.
Van Halen! Haven't lived until you have worn out a 5150 cassette.
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